Key retainer



Jan. 9, 1934. J, JACHENS 1,942,924

KEY RETAINER Filed May 24, 1952 I3 25 JNVENTOR. JO H N JACH E 5.

A TTORNE Y Fatented 9, 1%34 Uilll'ii T"? '7 Glaims.

This invention relates to key retainers and particularly to retainers of the jack knife or pivotal type.

Among the objects of the invention is to proii vide a simple, compact and easily operated means for assembling a number of keys, in such a manner that they may be selectively put into use.

Another object is to so construct and arrange the retainer handle that the keys be easily L] attached and detached therefrom.

Another object is to guard against the detachment of the keys except by intention.

Another object is to hold the keys effectively sheathed when not in use.

Another object is to assemble all the parts of the retainer permanently, to avoid the possible loss of any part of the retainer or keys therefrom.

A further object is to so design the retainer that its contours present an attractive appearones, will be comfortable to the user, and present no projections liable to cause wear and tear in his pockets.

Other objects advantages will appear as the .escription progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawing the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. It is to be understood, however, that it is not limited to this form, because it may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the other end swung outward toward the operative position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with one side of the retainer removed on the line IIII, Fig. 3, showso ing one of the pivots swung outward from the handle.

Fig. 3 is an edge view showing four sheathed keys in the handle.

Fig. 4 is an end View in fragmentary detail,

45 looking in the direction of the arrow IV, see

Fig. 1.

In detail the construction shown in the drawing comprises the side plates 1 and 2, having the rounded ends 33 and 4-l respectively. Each to of these ends is provided with the registering notches 5-5 and 6-6, extending into the pivotal centers of their respective ends.

These side plates are permanently joined by the oblique strut, having the lugs 8--8 and 99 on opposite sides, extending through slots in the sides 12, and riveted. This strut is bent at 10-11, and has the curved ends 12 -13. Each of these ends is notched as at 14-45. The center portion of the strut is cut away on one side as at l617, to form the center pivot 18, which bears against the adjacent side plate 1, see Figs. 2-3.

This assembly forms a double sheath handle.

The inner ends of the swing arms 2122 are pivoted on the pivot 18 before the plates 1-2 are riveted to the strut. The washer 23 fills the space between the swing arms and the adjacent side plate 1, so as to center the two swing arms between the plates 1-2. These swing arms are preferably made of thin spring metal.

The key studs 24-25 are fixed in the outer ends 7 of the swing arms and have grooves 26 adjacent their heads to engage the cross section of the plates 12 on opposite sides of the notches 5-6 respectively. Round studs could be substituted for the fiat studs 2 i25 shown.

The spring latches 2728 are formed on the arms 2122 respectively, and have the hook ends 2'7'28. These ends are bent laterally so that they have a cam-like action when they engage the sides of the slots 14-15 and are deflected into the slots. After the hook ends 2728 pass through the slots, the tension of the deflected detents urges the hook-ends 2'7'-28 into locked engagement with the ends 1213 adjacent the slots 1415, see dotted lines Fig. 4. The ends 2728' extend slightly beyond the margins of the plates 1-2, so that they may be manually pushed over into the slots 14-45 to release the arms 21-22, for the purpose of attaching or removing the keys, see Figs. 1-2.

Flat keys, such as A, B, C, D, have holes 29 eccentric to the centers of their manual ends. The ends of the keys are placed flat on the arms 2122 with the pivots 2425 through the holes 29, while the arms are swung outward as at 22 in Fig. 2. The key is then pushed inward so that the pivot 25 passes into the slots 66 and the hook end 28' snaps behind the end 13 and effectively locks the arm 22 in retracted position, with the grooves 2626 engaging the opposite sides 0 of the slot 6.

The keys are extended for use as at A in Fig. 1, or rotated into inoperative position as at C-D in Fig. 3. The keys are shown in intermediate positions in Figs. 1-2.

The plates 12 may be embossed, etched and fancifully shaped without changing the mode of operation of the device.

When the keys at the ends of the handle are in the sheathed position, as A, B, Fig. 3, the hook end 28 cannot be forced into the notch 15, and the swing arm 22 released. This prevents the keys being disengaged from the handle in the pocket of the user. Neither can these swing arms be swung outward by the normal usage of the keys. This disengagement of the latches 2728 can only be accomplished by the intentional manual operation previously described.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent 1s:

1. A key retainer including a handle, an arm pivoted in said handle, key engaging means on said arm, and a latch on said arm engaging a fixed abutment on said handle.

2. A key retainer including opposed plates joined by a strut; a swing arm pivoted on said strut and having a latch engageable with said strut; and key engaging means on said arm engageable with said plates.

3. A key r tainer including opposed plates having notched ends; a strut interposed between and joining said plates; a swing arm pivoted on said strut and having a spring latch engaging said strut; and a key engaging stud on said arm grooved to engage the opposite sides of said notches.

4. A key retainer including a pair of opposed plates having notched ends; a strut interposed between said plates intermediate said ends and having lugs thereon fixed to said plates and a pivot intermediate its length; a pair of swing arms engaging said pivot on opposite sides of said strut; spring latches on said arms disengageably engageable with said strut respectively; and key engaging studs on said arms adaptable to engage said notched ends respectively.

5. A key retainer including opposed plates; a strut interposed between and joining said plates and having a notch in its end; a swing arm pivoted between said plates and having a resilient latch engageable with the end of said strut and adapted to be flexed laterally into said notch; and key engaging means on said arm.

6. A key retainer including opposed plates having an abutment; a swing arm pivoted between said plates; key engaging means on said arm adapted to receive a key arranged to be sheathed between said plates; and a latch on said arm engageable with said abutment and adapted to be retained in latched position by the sheathing of said key.

7. A key retainer including opposed plates joined by a strut; a swing arm pivoted on said strut; key engaging means on said arm; a latch on said arm engageable with said strut and extending beyond the edges of said plates.

JOHN JACHENS. 

